In the quarterfinal against No. 16 Edinboro, Old Dominion kept the match as close as three points, but the Scots pulled away for a 21-12 win.

Prata marches with Saints

Yorktown’s Joey Prata, nationally ranked as a lightweight last year as an eighth-grader with the Virginia Predators’ club team, is off to an auspicious start with the St. Christopher’s Saints in Richmond.

Since the Predators are based in Richmond, the relocation wasn’t surprising. But Prata noted the move as the hardest part of his readjustment to high school.“We’re (family) still staying in the house in Yorktown, but also living in the house we bought in Richmond,” he said.

Despite the fluctuating home address, Prata hasn’t been affected on the mat. Gaining weight has been a problem for the freshman, a situation that led him to D’Shawn Wright at Body by D Gym in Yorktown last year for the purpose of bulking up his then-80-pound frame.

Prata said, “I’m still working on it, but I weighed in at 106 (exact weight) today.”

As of Friday afternoon, Prata’s record was “about 24-6” and the ninth-grader has been as high as No. 1 in the Virginia Independent Schools rankings this season for the 106-pound class.

Apprentice drops three

The Apprentice School, which upset U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association rival Central Florida at last year’s Duals, didn’t fare as well Friday in the American Division.

The Builders’ first opponent, Nassau Community College, which defeated Apprentice 49-6 last year, shut out the Builders 43-0 in their rematch.

The Builders then lost to Central Florida in the consolation bracket.

In their third match, the Builders lost 28-25 to Anderson (S.C.), though Apprentice’s Joshua Rodriguez (197) and Ian Jones (heavyweight) pinned their opponents.

More colleges

Three of the other four colleges from the state who came to the Duals opened with wins.

Liberty, competing in the American College Division, spotted Roger Williams (R.I.) a 12-0 edge before roaring back for a 26-17 win. Royal Brettrager (184) and Andrew Wilson (heavyweight) scored pins for the Flames, who won the final four matches.

The University of Virginia, ranked 19th nationally and wrestling in the top-level National College Division, won its first nine bouts en route to a 31-6 shelling of Bucknell. Jedd Moore (157) provided the most impressive result with a 17-1 technical-fall win over Vincent Favia.

No. 10 Virginia Tech also won its opening match, toppling Binghamton 32-9. Jesse Dong (157) and Peter Yates (165) scored back-to-back pins to put the Hokies in control of the match. In its next match, Tech rattled off the first 23 points to defeat Kent State 23-9.

VMI found a tougher challenge in its opening match, losing to Kent State 44-3. Ryan Goodsell (141) was the Keydets’ only winner, with a 5-1 decision over Lukas Kern.

In consolation matches, the Keydets dropped a 31-13 decision to Binghamton and a 38-3 match to The Citadel.